New LEDs for Bicentennial Park

Glebe’s Bicentennial Park is the first park in Sydney to have new LED lights installed as part of the City of Sydney’s $7 million three-year rollout of the green technology. The program is designed to provide brighter lighting in parks and streets while reducing electricity costs and carbon pollution.

The rollout of the LED lights follows a successful 18-month trial at Alexandria Park, Kings Cross, Martin Place and Circular Quay. The lights were produced by GE and installed by UGL Limited.

“Replacing 6450 conventional lights is not only good for the environment but makes good business sense as they will save the City of Sydney nearly $800,000 a year in electricity bills and maintenance costs,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

“Sydney will be the first city in Australia to install the new LED street and park lights across its city centre and joins other major cities such as Berlin, Barcelona, Los Angeles and San Francisco who are embracing the technology.”

The City of Sydney conducted a public survey during the trial and found that more than 90% of people found the new lighting more appealing, with three-quarters saying it improved visibility.

The City also participated in an international LED lighting trial with London, New York and Hong Kong, organised by the Climate Group.

One of the largest users of street lighting in NSW, the City of Sydney has 22,000 lights, of which 13,500 are maintained by Ausgrid and 8500 by the City. The new LED lights will reduce carbon emissions by 40%, or 2861 tonnes per year.

The program forms part of the City of Sydney’s greenhouse gas reduction target of achieving 70% of 2006 levels by 2030.